Effect of Cichorium Glandulosum Extracts on CCl4-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis

Cichorium glandulosum (CG), which is a Compositae family plant, is a commonly used traditional Uighur medicine capable of cleansing liver and being cholagogue, strengthening stomach, promoting digestion, inducing diuresis and reducing edema.

To study the liver and spleen indices, the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the histopathological changes.

Rats were intragastrically administered with the extracts of a traditional Uighur medicine Cichorium glandulosum (CG). The expressions of FN, Smard3 IGFBPrPl and TGF-β1 were detected.

The liver and spleen indices of the CG-V group were significantly lower than those of the model group (P < 0.01). The hepatic fibrosis symptoms of the CG-V and CG-VII groups were significantly relieved, and more FN, Smard3 and IGFBPrPl were expressed than those in the normal group. The expressions of FN, Smard3 and TGF-β1 in all treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the normal group, and the expressions in the CG-V and CG-VII groups were significantly different from those in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, the apoptotic index of the model group was significantly higher, but the indices of the CG-V and CG-VII groups were significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.01).

The extracts of CG probably exerted protective effects by influencing the TGF-β/Smads signal transduction pathway.